Wireless communication service delivery to user equipment (ue) using an access and mobility management function (amf)

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication network serves a wireless user device using N1 signaling. The wireless communication network establishes active N1 signaling links with the wireless user device and exchanges active N1 signaling with the wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links. The wireless communication network converts one of the active N1 signaling links for the wireless user device into an inactive N1 signaling link and exchanges inactive N1 signaling with the wireless user device to maintain the inactive N1 signaling link. The wireless communication network converts the inactive N1 signaling link for the wireless user device back into the one of the active N1 signaling links without performing a new registration for the wireless user device. The wireless communication network exchanges additional active N1 signaling with the wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links.

RELATED CASES

This United States Patent Application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/203,227 that was filed on Mar. 16, 2021 and isentitled “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SERVICE DELIVERY TO USER EQUIPMENT (UE)USING AN ACCESS AND MOBILITY MANAGEMENT FUNCTION (AMF).” U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/203,227 is hereby incorporated by reference intothis United States Patent Application.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Wireless communication networks provide wireless data services towireless user devices. Exemplary wireless data services includemachine-control, internet-access, media-streaming, andsocial-networking. Exemplary wireless user devices comprise phones,computers, vehicles, robots, and sensors. The wireless user devicesexecute user applications to support and use the wireless data services.For example, a robot may execute a machine-control application thatcommunicates with a robot controller over a wireless communicationnetwork.

The wireless communication networks have wireless access nodes whichexchange wireless signals with the wireless user devices over radiofrequency bands. The wireless signals use wireless network protocolslike Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR), Long Term Evolution (LTE),Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI),and Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN). The wireless access nodesexchange network signaling and user data with network elements that areoften clustered together into wireless network cores. The networkelements comprise Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs),Session Management Functions (SMFs), Interworking functions (IWFs), UserPlane Functions (UPFs), Policy Control Functions (PCFs), Uniform DataRepositories (UDRs), Network Exposure Functions (NEFs), and the like.

The wireless communication networks comprise user-planes that carry userdata and control-planes that control the user-planes by the transfer ofnetwork signaling. A typical user-plane comprises a wireless userdevice, wireless access node, IWF, and UPF. A typical control-planecomprises the wireless user device, wireless access node, IWF—and alsoan AMF and SMF. The control-plane in the wireless communication networkand the control-plane in the wireless user devices communicate oversignaling links like N1. The N1 signaling links are used for userauthentication, authorization, messaging, and other services. Forexample, wireless user devices and network AMFs use N1 signaling toperform Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting (ATSSS)operations.

At present, an AMF in the control-plane is limited to two N1 signalinglinks per wireless user device, although additional N1 options are oftenavailable to the wireless user device. The wireless user device and theAMF may stop using an active N1 signaling link and start using one ofthese N1 options by performing an AMF deregistration andre-registration. Unfortunately, the AMF deregistration andre-registration requires additional user reauthentication andreauthorization. Moreover, a huge amount of network signaling is neededto continuously reauthenticate and reauthorize the same user for the AMFde-registrations and re-registrations which are required to supportATSSS operations.

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

A wireless communication network serves a wireless user device using N1signaling. The wireless communication network establishes active N1signaling links with the wireless user device and exchanges active N1signaling with the wireless user device over the active N1 signalinglinks. The wireless communication network converts one of the active N1signaling links for the wireless user device into an inactive N1signaling link and exchanges inactive N1 signaling with the wirelessuser device to maintain the inactive N1 signaling link. The wirelesscommunication network converts the inactive N1 signaling link for thewireless user device back into the one of the active N1 signaling linkswithout performing a new registration for the wireless user device. Thewireless communication network exchanges additional active N1 signalingwith the wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links.

An Access and Mobility Management Function serves a wireless user deviceusing N1 signaling. The AMF performs registrations for the wireless userdevice, and in response, establishes active N1 signaling links with thewireless user device. The AMF converts one of the active N1 signalinglinks for the wireless user device into an inactive N1 signaling linkand exchanges inactive N1 signaling with the wireless user device tomaintain the registration for the inactive N1 signaling link. The AMFconverts the inactive N1 signaling link for the wireless user deviceinto the one of the active N1 signaling links based on the registrationand the inactive N1 signaling for the wireless user device. The AMFexchanges additional active N1 signaling with the wireless user deviceover the active N1 signaling links.

A wireless network core serves a wireless user device using N1signaling. A Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) is toexecute an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) Virtual NetworkFunction (VNF). The AMF VNF is to perform registrations for the wirelessuser device, and in response, establish active N1 signaling links withthe wireless user device. The AMF VNF is to convert one of the active N1signaling links for the wireless user device into an inactive N1signaling link and exchange inactive N1 signaling with the wireless userdevice to maintain the registration for the inactive N1 signaling link.The AMF VNF is to convert the inactive N1 signaling link for thewireless user device into the one of the active N1 signaling links basedon the registration and the inactive N1 signaling for the wireless userdevice. The AMF VNF is to exchange additional active N1 signaling withthe wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a data communication network to serve a UserEquipment (UE) using an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary operation of the data communicationnetwork to serve the UE using the AMF.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary operation of the data communicationnetwork to serve the UE using the AMF.

FIG. 4 illustrates a Fifth Generation (5G) wireless communicationnetwork to serve a UE using an AMF.

FIG. 5 illustrates the UE in the 5G wireless communication network.

FIG. 6 illustrates a Millimeter Wave Access Node (mmW AN) and an IEEE802.11 Access Node (WIFI AN) in the 5G wireless communication network.

FIG. 7 illustrates Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) AN and a Low PowerWide Area Network (LP WAN) AN in the 5G wireless communication network.

FIG. 8 illustrates a wireless network core comprising the AMF in thewireless communication network.

FIG. 9 further illustrates the wireless network core comprising the AMFin the 5G wireless communication network.

FIG. 10 illustrates the UE and the AMF in the 5G wireless communicationnetwork.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates data communication network 100 serve User Equipment(UE) 101 using Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 131. UE 101comprises a computer, phone, vehicle, sensor, robot, or some other dataappliance with wireless and/or wireline communication circuitry. Datacommunication network 100 delivers services to UE 101 likeinternet-access, machine communications, media-streaming, or some otherdata communications product. Data communication network 100 comprises UE101, network control-planes 111-113, network user-planes 121-123, AMF131, and User Plane Function (UPF) 132. UE 101 comprises userapplications (USER), Third Generation Partnership Project Control-PlaneApplications (3GPP CP), 3GPP User Plane Applications (3GPP UP), andInternet Protocol Applications (IP). AMF 131 comprises 3GPP CP, and UPF132 comprises 3GPP UP. Control-planes 111-113 direct the operation ofrespective user-planes 121-123 though network signaling. User-planes121-123 transfer user data in response to the network signaling.User-planes 121-123 comprise both 3GPP user-planes and non-3GPPuser-planes. The amount of UEs, control-planes, user-planes, AMFs, andUPFs has been restricted for clarity, and data communication network 100typically includes many more UEs, control-planes, user-planes, AMFs, andUPFs.

Various examples of network operation and configuration are describedherein. In some examples, UE 101 and AMF 131 establish a first activeregistration with AMF 131 over control plane 111 and responsivelyestablish an active N1. UE 101 and AMF 131 establish a second activeregistration with AMF 131 over control plane 112 and responsivelyestablish another active N1. AMF 131 and UE 101 deactivate the secondactive registration for UE 101. UE 101 and AMF 131 establish a thirdactive registration. The establishment of the active registrationsentail the authentication and authorization of UE 101 by AMF 131. AMF131 and UE 101 exchange active N1 signaling for the first activeregistration and the third active registration. AMF 131 and UE 101 alsoexchange the inactive N1 signaling for the second inactive registration.The inactive N1 signaling may be encapsulated within the active N1signaling. The inactive N1 signaling may be used along with the activeN1 signaling for steering, switching, and splitting.

Subsequently, AMF 131 and UE 101 deactivate the third activeregistration based on the active N1 signaling and the inactive N1signaling. AMF 131 and UE 101 also reactivate the second inactiveregistration based on the active N1 signaling and the inactive N1signaling. AMF 131 does not reauthenticate or reauthorize UE 101 duringthe reactivation of the second inactive registration when UE 101 hasused its inactive N1 to maintain its original authentication andauthorization for user-plane 122. This change from the thirdregistration back to the second registration can be based on theperformance of all three user-planes 121-123 may be to: 1) steer someuser traffic from one user-plane to another based on performance, 2)switch all user traffic from one user-plane to another for a handover,or 3) split user traffic across aggregated user-planes. AMF 131 and UE101 now exchange active N1 signaling for the first active registrationand the second active registration. AMF 131 and UE 101 also exchangeinactive N1 signaling for the third inactive registration. Subsequently,AMF 131 and UE 101 may deactivate the first or second activeregistrations and reactivate the third inactive registration based onthe active N1 signaling and the inactive N1 signaling.

Advantageously, UE 101 and AMF 131 effectively use more than two N1signaling links at a time. Moreover, UE 101 and AMF 131 efficientlyperform ATSSS operations using more than two N1 signaling links.

UE 101 communicates with network control planes 111-113 and network userplanes 121-123 over technologies like Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR),Long Term Evolution (LTE), Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN),Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI),IEEE 802.3 (ENET), Bluetooth, Narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT),and/or some other networking protocol. The wireless communicationtechnologies use electromagnetic frequencies in the low-band, mid-band,high-band, or some other portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thecommunication links that support these technologies use metallic links,glass fibers, radio channels, or some other communication media. Thecommunication links use ENET, Time Division Multiplex (TDM), Data OverCable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS), Internet Protocol (IP),General Packet Radio Service Transfer Protocol (GTP), 5GNR, LTE, WIFI,Fifth Generation Core (5GC), virtual switching, inter-processorcommunication, bus interfaces, and/or some other data communicationprotocols.

UE 101, control-planes 111-113, and user-planes 121-123 compriseantennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog/digital interfaces,microprocessors, software, memories, transceivers, bus circuitry, andthe like. AMF 131 and UPF 132 comprise microprocessors, software,memories, transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. The microprocessorscomprise Digital Signal Processors (DSP), Central Processing Units(CPU), Graphical Processing Units (GPU), Application-Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASIC), and/or the like. The memories comprise Random AccessMemory (RAM), flash circuitry, disk drives, and/or the like. Thememories store software like operating systems, user applications, radioapplications, and network functions. The microprocessors retrieve thesoftware from the memories and execute the software to drive theoperation of data communication network 100 as described herein.

User-planes 121-123 may comprise: 5GNR gNodeBs, LTE eNodeBs, non-3GPPAccess Nodes (ANs), non-3GPP Interworking Functions (IWFs), UPFs, and/orsome other network elements that handle user data. Control-planes111-113 may comprise: gNodeBs, eNodeBs, IWFs, CAARs, 3GPP Access andMobility Management Functions (AMFs), Session Management Functions(SMFs), Policy Control Functions, (PCFs), Uniform Data Repositories(UDRs) and/or some other network elements that control user planes121-123 with network signaling. AMF 131 could be integrated into one ofcontrol planes 111-113. UPF 132 could be integrated into one of userplanes 121-123.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary operation of data communication network100 to serve UE 101 using AMF 131. The operation may differ in otherexamples. UE 101 and AMF 131 establish a first active registration overcontrol plane 111 and responsively establish an active N1 (201). UE 101and AMF 131 establish a second active registration over control plane112 and responsively establish another active N1 (201). AMF 131 and UE101 deactivate the first active registration (202). UE 101 and AMF 131establish a third active registration (202). AMF 131 and UE 101 exchangeactive N1 signaling for the second active registration and the thirdactive registration (203). AMF 131 and UE 101 also exchange inactive N1signaling for the first inactive registration (203). AMF 131 and UE 101monitor the active N1s and the inactive N1 for Access Traffic Steering,Switching, Splitting (ATSSS) events for user planes 121-123 (204). Whenan ATSSS event is detected for event for user planes 121-123 (204), AMF131 and UE 101 deactivate the third active registration based on theactive N1 signaling and the inactive N1 signaling (204). AMF 131 and UE101 reactivate the first inactive registration based on the active N1signaling and the inactive N1 signaling (204). AMF 131 and UE 101exchange active N1 signaling for the first active registration and thesecond active registration (205). AMF 131 and UE 101 also exchangeinactive N1 signaling for the third inactive registration (205).

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary operation of data communicationnetwork 100 to serve UE 101 using AMF 131. The operation may differ inother examples. UE 101 and AMF 131 establish a first active registrationwith AMF 131 over control-plane (CP) 111. AMF 131 authenticates andauthorizes UE 101 during the first active registration. UE 101 and AMF131 establish an active N1 over control-plane 111. UE 101 and UPF 132may exchange user data over user-plane (UP) 121.

UE 101 and AMF 131 establish a second active registration with AMF 131over control-plane 112. AMF 131 authenticates and authorizes UE 101during the second active registration. UE 101 and AMF 131 establish asecond active N1 over control-plane 112. UE 101 and UPF 132 may exchangeuser data over user-plane 122.

UE 101 and AMF 131 determine to switch user data from user-plane 121 andto user-plane 123 in response to UE mobility. UE 101 and AMF 131deactivate the N1 for the second active registration for user-plane 122,and the second active registration becomes the second inactiveregistration with an inactive N1. UE 101 and AMF 131 establish a thirdactive registration over control-plane 113. AMF 131 authenticates andauthorizes UE 101 during the third active registration. UE 101 and AMF131 establish an active N1 over control-plane 113. UE 101 and UPF 132may exchange user data over user-plane 123. AMF 131 and UE 101 exchangeactive N1 signaling for the first active registration over control-plane111. AMF 131 and UE 101 exchange active N1 signaling for the thirdactive registration over control-plane 113. AMF 131 and UE 101 exchangeinactive N1 signaling for the second inactive registration overcontrol-plane 111 and/or control-plane 113. UE 101 and UPF 132 mayexchange user data over user-planes 121 and 123.

UE 101 and AMF 131 determine to split user data across user-plane 121and user-plane 122 based on the performance of all three user-planes121-123. In response, UE 101 and AMF 131 deactivate the N1 for the thirdactive registration and user-plane 123, and the third activeregistration becomes the third inactive registration with an inactiveN1. UE 101 and AMF 131 reactivate the second registration overcontrol-plane 112 and re-establish its active N1, and the secondinactive registration becomes the second active registration with anactive N1. AMF 131 does not reauthenticate or reauthorize UE 101 duringthe reactivation of the second registration since UE 101 has properlyused its inactive N1 to maintain the authentication and authorizationfor user-plane 122. UE 101 and AMF 131 reestablish an active N1 overcontrol-plane 112. UE 101 and UPF 132 may exchange user data overuser-plane 122. AMF 131 and UE 101 exchange active N1 signaling for thefirst active registration over control-plane 111. AMF 131 and UE 101exchange active N1 signaling for the second active registration overcontrol-plane 112. AMF 131 and UE 101 also exchange inactive N1signaling for the third inactive registration over control-plane 111and/or control-plane 112. UE 101 and UPF 132 may exchange user data overuser-planes 121 and 122.

FIG. 4 illustrates Fifth Generation (5G) wireless communication network400 to serve UE 401 using AMF 431. 5G wireless communication network 400comprises an example of data communication network 100, although network100 may vary from this example. 5G communication network 400 comprisesUE 401, Millimeter Wave (mmW) Access Node (AN) 421, IEEE 802.11 (WIFI)AN 422, Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) AN 423, and Low-Power WideArea Network (LP WAN) AN 424, non-3GPP Interworking Functions (IWF)425-426, Fifth Generation Core (5GC) User Plane Function (UPF) 427, 5GCAccess and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 431, 5GC SessionManagement Function (SMF) 432. Other network elements like PolicyControl Function (PCF), Uniform Data Repository (UDR), Network ExposureFunction (NEF), and the like are typically included but are omitted forclarity. Additional SMFs and UPFs could be used as well. For example,N3GPP IWF 425 could be linked to external systems over a different UPFthan UPF 427, or LP WAN AN 423 could be linked to external systems overa different UPF and SMF than UPF 427 and SMF 432. Four different networkuser planes are formed by: 1) UE 401, mmW AN 421, IWF 425, and UPF 427,2) UE 401, WIFI AN 422, IWF 426, and UPF 427, 3) UE 401, 5GNR AN 423,and UPF 427, and 4) UE 401, LP WAN AN 424, and UPF 427. Four differentnetwork control planes are formed by: 1) UE 401, mmW AN 421, IWF 425,AMF 431, and SMF 432, 2) UE 401, WIFI AN 422, IWF 426, AMF 431, and SMF432, 3) UE 401, 5GNR AN 423, AMF 431, and SMF 432, and 4) UE 401, LP WANAN 424, AMF 431, and SMF 432.

UE 401 and AMF 431 establish a first active registration over mmW AN 421and N3GPP IWF 425 and responsively establish an active N1. UE 401 andAMF 431 establish a second active registration over WIFI AN 422 andN3GPP IWF 426 and responsively establish a second active N1. Theparticular order used for these registrations is exemplary and otherorders could be used. Both active registrations entail theauthentication of UE 401 by AMF 431—typically by comparing hashes of aUE ID. Both active registrations entail the authorization of UE 401 byAMF 431—typically by dipping a subscriber database with the authentic UEID to identify currently available services for UE 401.

To build the group of N1s for UE 401, AMF 431 and UE 401 deactivate thesecond active registration for UE 401 over WIFI AN 422 and N3GPP IWF 426and establish a third active registration over 5GNR AN 423. AMF 431 andUE 401 exchange active N1 signaling for the first active registrationover mmW AN 421 and N3GPP IWF 425. AMF 431 and UE 401 exchange active N1signaling for the third active registration over 5GNR AN 423. AMF 431and UE 401 also exchange inactive N1 signaling for the second inactiveregistration for WIFI AN 422 and N3GPP IWF 426, but AMF 431 and UE 401exchange the inactive N1 signaling over one of the active N1 signalinglinks. For example, AMF 431 and UE 401 may mark inactive N1 signalingpackets as inactive and then encapsulate the marked inactive N1signaling packets within the active N1 signaling packets. AMF 431 and UE401 then transfer the marked and encapsulated inactive N1 signalingpackets within active N1 signaling packets that traverse the active N1over mmW AN 421 and N3GPP IWF 425 and/or the other active N1 over 5GNRAN 423.

To further build the group of N1s for UE 401, AMF 431 and UE 401deactivate the third active registration for UE 401 over 5GNR AN 423. UE401 and AMF 431 establish a fourth active registration over LP WAN AN424. AMF 431 and UE 401 exchange active N1 signaling for the firstactive registration over mmW AN 421 and N3GPP IWF 425. AMF 431 and UE401 exchange active N1 signaling for the fourth active registration overLP WAN AN 424. AMF 431 and UE 401 also exchange inactive N1 signalingfor the second inactive registration (WIFI AN 422 and N3GPP IWF 426) andthe third inactive N1 registration (5GNR AN 423) over the active N1signaling that traverses mmW AN 421 and N3GPP IWF 425 and/or LP WAN AN424.

UE 401 and AMF 431 use N1 information from both the active and inactiveN1s to perform Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting(ATSSS). Thus, AMF 431 has continuous N1 data for all four user planesto use when selecting which two user planes and N1s should be active andwhich two user planes and N1s should be inactive. To switch traffic froma source user plane to target user plane, the active N1 for the sourceuser-plane is deactivated and the inactive N1 for the target user planeis activated. The target user plane now carries user traffic. Theinactive N1 signaling for the source user plane is now encapsulatedwithin the active N1 of the target user plane or the other active userplane. To steer traffic away from poorly-performing user planes to abetter-performing user plane, the active N1 for one of thepoorly-performing user-planes is deactivated, and the inactive N1 forthe better-performing user plane is activated. User traffic is steeredaway from the poorly-performing user plane and toward thebetter-performing user plane to improve service. The inactive N1signaling for the deactivated and poorly-performing user plane is nowencapsulated within the active N1s of the now better-performing userplanes. To split traffic across aggregated user planes, the active N1sfor the two non-aggregated user planes are deactivated if they wereactive, and the N1s for the two aggregated user-planes are reactivatedif they were inactive. The inactive N1 signaling for the inactive userplanes is now encapsulated within the active N1s of the aggregated userplanes.

To deactivate an N1, UE 401 and AMF 131 mark the N1 signaling packets asinactive and encapsulate them within active N1 signaling packets. Theencapsulated inactive signaling packets are decapsulated based on theinactive mark and handled by an inactive N1 signaling terminator thatdoes not otherwise inhibit the active N1 signaling operations. Theinactive N1 is used to transfer status information, make user requests,and maintain authentication and authorization for the inactive N1through the inactive period. To reactivate an N1, UE 401 and AMF 131stop marking the N1 signaling packets as inactive and stop encapsulatingthe active N1 signaling packets. The active N1 signaling packets nowtraverse their own user plane and may encapsulate other inactive N1signaling packets. The active N1 packets are handled by an active N1signaling terminator. The active N1 terminator and the inactive N1terminator both transfer N1 status information to AMF 431 for ATSSSoperations.

When an inactive N1 is able to maintain its original authentication andauthorization with AMF 431 through an inactive period, AMF 131 does notreauthenticate or reauthorize UE 401 when the N1 is reactivated. Thus,AMF 431 and UE 401 do not rehash and re-compare the rehashes for UE 401.For N1 registration reactivation, AMF 431 and UE 401 do not re-accessthe subscriber database to identify currently available services for UE401. Thus, UE 401 and AMF 431 may use a large number of N1s withoutexcessive reauthentication and reauthorization.

AMF 431 may advertise its enhanced N1 registration capability in SystemInformation Blocks (SIBs) that are broadcast over at least some of ANs421-424. UE 401 may report its enhanced N1 registration capability in UEcapability messages that are signaled to AMF 431 over at least some ofANs 421-424. AMF 431 may update the Radio Resource Control (RRC)Inactive Assistance Information to reflect the currently active andinactive N1 registrations.

In some examples, UE 401 and AMF 431 use active Public Land MobileNetwork Identifiers (PLMN IDs) for the active N1 registrations and useinactive PLMN IDs for the inactive PLMN registrations. Thus, UE 401 mayreceive a SIB that indicates the active/inactive PLMNs. UE 401 requestsand uses the active PLMN IDs for the active N1s and requests and usesthe inactive PLMN IDs for the inactive N1s. The inactive PLMN IDs couldbe fake.

FIG. 5 illustrates UE 401 in 5G wireless communication network 400. UE401 comprises an example of UE 101, although UE 101 may differ. UE 401comprises mmW radio 501, WIFI radio 502, 5GNR radio 503, LP WAN radio504, processing circuitry 505, and user components 506. Radios 501-504comprise antennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog-to-digitalinterfaces, DSP, memory, and transceivers that are coupled over buscircuitry. Processing circuitry 505 comprises memory, CPU, userinterfaces and components, and transceivers that are coupled over buscircuitry. The memory in processing circuitry 505 stores an operatingsystem, user applications (USER), and network applications for IP, 5GNR,WIFI, LP WAN, mmW, and 3GPP networking (NET) 506. The networkapplications include physical layer, media access control, link control,convergence and adaption, radio resource control, and the like.

The antennas in mmW radio 501 are wirelessly coupled to mmW AN 421 overa mmW link that can transport an active N1 over IP. The antennas in WIFIradio 502 are wirelessly coupled to WIFI AN 422 over a WIFI link thatcan transport an active N1 over NWu. The antennas in 5GNR radio 503 arewirelessly coupled to 5GNR AN 423 over a 5GNR link that can transport anactive N1 over RRC. The antennas in LP WAN radio 504 are wirelesslycoupled to LP WAN AN 424 over an LP WAN link that can transport anactive N1 over RRC. Transceivers in radios 501-504 are coupled totransceivers in processing circuitry 505. Transceivers in processingcircuitry 505 are coupled to user components 506 like displays,controllers, and memory. The CPU in processing circuitry 505 executesthe operating system, user applications, and network applications toexchange network signaling and user data with ANs 421-424 overrespective radios 501-504.

3GPP networking 506 establishes a first active AMF registration over themmW network applications, mmW radio 501, and mmW AN 421. During AMFregistration, 3GPP networking 506 receives a random number over the mmWnetwork applications, mmW radio 501, and mmW AN 421. 3GPP networking 506retrieves a Subscriber Permanent Identifier (SUPI) UE 401 from thememory and hashes the random number with the SUPI to generate a result.3GPP networking 506 transfers the result over the mmW networkapplications, mmW radio 501, and mmW AN 421 to perform authentication.After successful authentication and authorization, 3GPP networking 506establishes an active N1 over the mmW network applications, mmW radio501 and mmW AN 421. 3GPP networking 506 exchanges user data and N1signaling over the mmW network applications, mmW radio 501 and mmW AN421.

3GPP networking 506 establishes a second active AMF registration overthe WIFI network applications, WIFI radio 502, and WIFI AN 422. Duringthe second AMF registration, 3GPP networking 506 receives another randomnumber over the WIFI applications, WIFI radio 502, and WIFI AN 422. 3GPPnetworking 506 hashes the other random number with the SUPI to generateanother result. 3GPP networking 506 transfers the other result over theWIFI applications, WIFI radio 502, and WIFI AN 422 to perform anotherauthentication. After successful authentication and authorization, 3GPPnetworking 506 establishes an active N1 over the WIFI applications, WIFIradio 502, and WIFI AN 422. 3GPP networking 506 exchanges user data andN1 signaling over the WIFI applications, WIFI radio 502, and WIFI AN422.

To initially build N1s, 3GPP networking 506 transfers network signalingto deactivate the active mmW registration and mmW N1 and to establish anN1 for the 5GNR user plane. 3GPP networking 506 now transfers inactiveN1 data for the mmW user plane over the active N1 for the WIFI userplane. 3GPP networking 506 then establishes a third active AMFregistration over the 5GNR network applications, 5GNR radio 503, and5GNR AN 423. During the third AMF registration, 3GPP networking 506receives another random number over the 5GNR applications, 5GNR radio503, and 5GNR AN 423. 3GPP networking 506 hashes the other random numberwith the SUPI to generate another result. 3GPP networking 506 transfersthe other result over the 5GNR applications, 5GNR radio 503, and 5GNR AN423 to perform another authentication. After successful authenticationand authorization, 3GPP networking 506 establishes an active N1 over the5GNR applications, 5GNR radio 503, and 5GNR AN 423. 3GPP networking 506exchanges user data and N1 signaling over the 5GNR applications, 5GNRradio 503, and 5GNR AN 423. 3GPP networking 506 may transfer inactive N1data for the mmW user plane over the active N1 for the 5GNR user plane.

To continue building N1s, 3GPP networking 506 transfers networksignaling to deactivate the active 5GNR registration and 5GNR N1 and toestablish an N1 for the LP WAN user plane. 3GPP networking 506 starts totransfer inactive N1 data for the mmW user plane and the 5GNR user planeover the active N1 for the WIFI user plane. 3GPP networking 506 thenestablishes a fourth active AMF registration over the LP WAN networkapplications, LP WAN radio 504, and LP WAN AN 424. During the fourth AMFregistration, 3GPP networking 506 receives another random number overthe LP WAN applications, LP WAN radio 504, and LP WAN AN 424. 3GPPnetworking 506 hashes the other random number with the SUPI to generateanother result. 3GPP networking 506 transfers the other result over theLP WAN applications, LP WAN radio 504, and LP WAN AN 424 to performanother authentication. After successful authentication andauthorization, 3GPP networking 506 establishes an active N1 over the LPWAN applications, LP WAN radio 504, and LP WAN AN 424. 3GPP networking506 exchanges user data and N1 signaling over the LP WAN applications,LP WAN radio 504, and LP WAN AN 424. 3GPP networking 506 may transferinactive N1 data for the mmW user plane and the 5GNR user plane over theactive N1s for the WIFI user plane and the LP WAN user plane.

To transfer inactive N1 signaling, 3GPP networking 506 adds an inactivemark to the inactive N1 signaling packets. 3GPP networking 506 thenencapsulate the marked inactive N1 signaling packets within active N1signaling packets. 3GPP networking 506 then transfers the active N1signaling packets over their active user planes. The active N1 signalingpackets carry the inactive N1 signaling packets for the inactive userplanes. To receive inactive N1 signaling, 3GPP networking 506decapsulates the inactive N1 signaling packets from the active N1signaling packets based on the inactive marks.

3GPP networking 506 uses N1 information from both the active andinactive N1s to perform Access Traffic Steering, Switching, Splitting(ATSSS). Based on ATSSS rules, active N1 data, and inactive N1 data,3GPP 506 maintains two active user planes and two active N1s. 3GPP 506also maintains two inactive user planes and two inactive N1s. When 3GPP506 maintains an inactive N1 link through its inactive periods byperiodic signaling, handshakes, and the like, then 3GPP 506 does nothave to get UE 401 reauthenticated and reauthorized to reactivate theuser planes and the N1s.

3GPP networking 506 may receive network broadcasts that advertise theenhanced N1 registration capability. 3GPP networking 506 may report itsenhanced N1 registration capability in UE capability messages that aresignaled during wireless network attachment. In some examples, 3GPPnetworking 506 uses active PLMN IDs for the active N1 registrations anduses inactive PLMN IDs for the inactive PLMN registrations.

FIG. 6 illustrates Millimeter Wave Access Node (mmW AN) 421 and an IEEE802.11 Access Node (WIFI AN) 422 in 5G wireless communication network400. ANs 421-422 comprise an example of control-planes 111-113 and userplanes 121-123, although control-planes 111-113 and user planes 121-123may differ. WIFI AN 422 comprises WIFI radio 602 and node circuitry 604,and mmW access node 421 comprises mmW radio 601 and node circuitry 603.Radios 601-602 comprise antennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation,analog-to-digital interfaces, DSP, memory, and transceivers that arecoupled over bus circuitry. Node circuitry 603-604 comprises memory,CPU, and transceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. The memory innode circuitry 603-604 stores operating systems and networkapplications. In mmW AN 421, the network applications comprise mmW PHY,mmW MAC, mmW LLC, IP, and 3GPP Networking (3GPP). In WIFI AN 422, thenetwork applications comprise WIFI PHY, WIFI MAC, WIFI LLC, IP, and3GPP.

The antennas in mmW radio 601 are wirelessly coupled to UE 401 overwireless links that support N1 over IP. Transceivers in mmW radio 601are coupled to transceivers in node circuitry 603, and transceivers innode circuitry 603 are coupled to transceivers in IWF 425 over linksthat support N1 signaling over IP. The CPU in node circuitry 603executes the operating system and mmW applications to exchange data andsignaling with UE 401 over the wireless mmW link and to exchange dataand signaling with IWF 425.

The antennas in WIFI radio 602 are wirelessly coupled to UE 401 overwireless links that support N1 over NWu. Transceivers in WIFI radio 602are coupled to transceivers in node circuitry 604, and transceivers innode circuitry 604 are coupled to transceivers in IWF 425 over linksthat support N1 signaling over NWu. The CPU in node circuitry 604executes the operating system and WIFI applications to exchange data andsignaling with UE 401 over the wireless WIFI link and to exchange dataand signaling with IWF 426.

FIG. 7 illustrates Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) AN 423 and LowPower Wide Area Network (LP WAN) AN 424 in 5G wireless communicationnetwork 400. 5GNR AN 423 and LP WAN AN 424 comprises an example ofcontrol-planes 111-113 and user planes 121-123, although control-planes111-113 and user planes 121-123 may differ. ANs 423-424 comprise 5GNRRadio Unit (RU) 701, LP WAN RU 702, 3GPP Distributed Unit (DU) 703, and3GPP Centralized Unit (CU) 704. RUs 701-702 comprise antennas,amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog-to-digital interfaces, DSP,memory, and transceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. DU 703comprises memory, CPU, and transceivers that are coupled over buscircuitry. The memory in DU 703 stores operating systems and networkapplications like PHY, MAC, LLC, and RLC. CU 704 comprises memory, CPU,and transceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. The memory in CU704 stores an operating system and network applications like Packet DataConvergence Protocol (PDCP), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP),Radio Resource Control (RRC), and IP.

The antennas in 5GNR RU 701 are wirelessly coupled to UE 401 over 5GNRlinks that support N1 over RRC. The antennas in LP WAN RU 702 arewirelessly coupled to UE 401 over LP WAN links that support N1 over RRC.Transceivers in RUs 701-702 are coupled to transceivers in DU 703 overfronthaul links like enhanced Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI).Transceivers in DU 703 coupled to transceivers in CU 704 over mid-haullinks. Transceivers in CU 704 are coupled to AMFs 431 and UPF 427 overbackhaul links. The CPU in DU 704 executes an operating system andnetwork applications to exchange 5GNR and LP WAN data units with RUs701-702 and to exchange 5GNR and LP data units with CU 704. The CPU inCU 704 executes an operating system and network applications to exchangeN2/N1 signaling with AMF 431 and N3 data with UPF 427.

FIG. 8 illustrates wireless network core 800 comprising AMF 431 in 5Gwireless communication network 400. Network core 800 comprises anexample of AMF 131 and UPF 132, although AMF 131 and UPF 132 may differ.Network core 800 comprises Network Function VirtualizationInfrastructure (NFVI) hardware 801, NFVI hardware drivers 802, NFVIoperating systems 803, NFVI virtual layer 804, and NFVI Virtual NetworkFunctions (VNFs) 805. NFVI hardware 801 comprises Network InterfaceCards (NICs), CPU, RAM, Flash/Disk Drives (DRIVE), and Data Switches(SW). NFVI hardware drivers 802 comprise software that is resident inthe NIC, CPU, RAM, DRIVE, and SW. NFVI operating systems 803 comprisekernels, modules, applications, containers, hypervisors, and the like.NFVI virtual layer 804 comprises vNIC, vCPU, vRAM, vDRIVE, and vSW. NFVIVNFs 805 comprise non-3GPP IWF 825, non-3GPP IWF 826, UPF 827, AMF 831,and Other VNFs like Policy Control Functions (PCF), AuthenticationServer Function (AUSF), and Network Repository Function (NRF) aretypically present but are omitted for clarity. Network core 800 may belocated at a single site or be distributed across multiple geographiclocations. The NIC in NFVI hardware 801 are coupled to ANs 421-424 overdata links that support IP, NWu, N1, N2, N3, and N6. NFVI hardware 801executes NFVI hardware drivers 802, NFVI operating systems 803, NFVIvirtual layer 804, and NFVI VNFs 805 to form IWFs 425-426, UPF 427, AMF431, and SMF 432.

FIG. 9 further illustrates wireless network core 400 comprising AMF 431in 5G wireless communication network 400. Non-3GPP IWFs 425-426 performY2 termination, N2 termination, NWu termination, and N1 transfer. UPF427 performs packet routing & forwarding, packet inspection and policy,QoS handling and lawful intercept, PDL; interconnection, and mobilityanchoring. AMF 431 performs active N1 termination, inactive N1termination, N2 termination, LT ciphering & integrity protection, UEregistration and connection, UE mobility and reachability, LTauthentication and authorization, and UE short messaging. SMF 432performs N1 termination, session establishment/management, UPF selectionand control, policy and charging control, and traffic steering androuting.

FIG. 10 illustrates UE 401 and AMF 431 in the 5G wireless communicationnetwork 400. UE 401 and AMF 431 establish two active registrations overat least one of mmW, WIFI, 5GNR, and LP WAN. UE 401 and AMF 431establish two active N1s between their active N1 terminators responsiveto the two registrations. The active registrations entail theauthentication of UE 401 by AMF 431 by comparing hashes of a SUPI (orother ID) for UE 401. Both active registrations entail the authorizationof UE 401 by AMF 431 by dipping a UDM to identify currently availableservices for authenticated UE 401. To build N1s for UE 401, AMF 431 andUE 401 deactivate active registrations and establish new registrationsover at least one of mmW, WIFI, 5GNR, and LP WAN. AMF 431 and UE 401exchange active N1 signaling for the active registrations between thetwo active N1 terminators. AMF 431 and UE 401 exchange inactive N1signaling for the inactive registrations between the two inactive N1terminators over the active N1 terminators and the active N1 signalinglinks. The active N1 terminators encapsulate and decapsulate theinactive N1 signaling based on inactive marks in the signaling packets.The inactive N1 terminators maintain their original authentication andauthorizations through their inactive periods by periodic messaging andhandshakes with AMF 431. AMF 131 does not reauthenticate or reauthorizeUE 401 when N1s are reactivated.

In UE 401, the active N1 terminators and the inactive N1 terminatorsexchange N1 information with 3GPP networking application 506. In AMF431, the active N1 terminators and the inactive N1 terminators exchangeN1 information with 3GPP networking application 1006. 3GPP networkingapplications 506 and 1006 use the N1 information from both active andinactive N1s to perform ATSSS operations.

The wireless data network circuitry described above comprises computerhardware and software that form special-purpose network circuitry toserve UEs over inactive N1 links using an AMF. The computer hardwarecomprises processing circuitry like CPUs, DSPs, GPUs, transceivers, buscircuitry, and memory. To form these computer hardware structures,semiconductors like silicon or germanium are positively and negativelydoped to form transistors. The doping comprises ions like boron orphosphorus that are embedded within the semiconductor material. Thetransistors and other electronic structures like capacitors andresistors are arranged and metallically connected within thesemiconductor to form devices like logic circuitry and storageregisters. The logic circuitry and storage registers are arranged toform larger structures like control units, logic units, andRandom-Access Memory (RAM). In turn, the control units, logic units, andRAM are metallically connected to form CPUs, DSPs, GPUs, transceivers,bus circuitry, and memory.

In the computer hardware, the control units drive data between the RAMand the logic units, and the logic units operate on the data. Thecontrol units also drive interactions with external memory like flashdrives, disk drives, and the like. The computer hardware executesmachine-level software to control and move data by driving machine-levelinputs like voltages and currents to the control units, logic units, andRAM. The machine-level software is typically compiled from higher-levelsoftware programs. The higher-level software programs comprise operatingsystems, utilities, user applications, and the like. Both thehigher-level software programs and their compiled machine-level softwareare stored in memory and retrieved for compilation and execution. Onpower-up, the computer hardware automatically executesphysically-embedded machine-level software that drives the compilationand execution of the other computer software components which thenassert control. Due to this automated execution, the presence of thehigher-level software in memory physically changes the structure of thecomputer hardware machines into special-purpose network circuitry toserve UEs over inactive N1 links using an AMF.

The above description and associated figures teach the best mode of theinvention. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Notethat some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of theinvention as specified by the claims. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the features described above can be combined in variousways to form multiple variations of the invention. Thus, the inventionis not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but only bythe following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of serving a wireless user device usingN1 signaling, the method comprising: establishing active N1 signalinglinks with the wireless user device and exchanging active N1 signalingwith the wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links;converting one of the active N1 signaling links for the wireless userdevice into an inactive N1 signaling link and exchanging inactive N1signaling with the wireless user device to maintain the inactive N1signaling link; converting the inactive N1 signaling link for thewireless user device back into the one of the active N1 signaling linkswithout performing a new registration for the wireless user device; andafter converting the inactive N1 signaling link back into the one of theactive N1 signaling links, exchanging additional active N1 signalingwith the wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising establishing a new active N1signaling link with the wireless user device when the one of the activeN1 signaling links for the wireless user device comprises the inactiveN1 signaling link; and exchanging new active N1 signaling with thewireless user device over the new active N1 signaling link.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: establishing a new active N1signaling link with the wireless user device when the one of the activeN1 signaling links for the wireless user device comprises the inactiveN1 signaling link; and converting the new active N1 signaling link forthe wireless user device into another inactive N1 signaling link beforeconverting the inactive N1 signaling link for the wireless user deviceback into the one of the active N1 signaling links.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the one of the active N1 signaling links comprises aFifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) communication link.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the one of the active N1 signaling links comprises anInstitute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI)communication link.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one of theactive N1 signaling links comprises a Millimeter Wave (MMW)communication link.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the one of theactive N1 signaling links comprises a Low-Power Wide Area Network(LP-WAN) communication link.
 8. A method of operating an Access andMobility Management Function (AMF) to serve a wireless user device usingN1 signaling, the method comprising: the AMF performing registrationsfor the wireless user device, and in response, establishing active N1signaling links with the wireless user device; the AMF converting one ofthe active N1 signaling links for the wireless user device into aninactive N1 signaling link and exchanging inactive N1 signaling with thewireless user device to maintain the registration for the inactive N1signaling link; the AMF converting the inactive N1 signaling link forthe wireless user device back into the one of the active N1 signalinglinks based on the registration and the inactive N1 signaling for thewireless user device; and the AMF exchanging additional active N1signaling with the wireless user device over the active N1 signalinglinks.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: the AMF performing anew registration for the wireless user device, and in response,establishing a new active N1 signaling link with the wireless userdevice when the one of the active N1 signaling links for the wirelessuser device comprises the inactive N1 signaling link; and the AMFexchanging new active N1 signaling with the wireless user device overthe new active N1 signaling link.
 10. The method of claim 8 furthercomprising: the AMF performing a new registration for the wireless userdevice, and in response, establishing a new active N1 signaling linkwith the wireless user device when the one of the active N1 signalinglinks for the wireless user device comprises the inactive N1 signalinglink; and the AMF converting the new active N1 signaling link for thewireless user device into another inactive N1 signaling link beforeconverting the inactive N1 signaling link for the wireless user deviceback into the one of the active N1 signaling links.
 11. The method ofclaim 8 wherein the one of the active N1 signaling links comprises aFifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) communication link.
 12. The method ofclaim 8 wherein the one of the active N1 signaling links comprises anInstitute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI)communication link.
 13. The method of claim 8 wherein the one of theactive N1 signaling links comprises a Millimeter Wave (MMW)communication link.
 14. The method of claim 8 wherein the one of theactive N1 signaling links comprises a Low-Power Wide Area Network(LP-WAN) communication link.
 15. A wireless network core to serve awireless user device using N1 signaling, the wireless network corecomprising: a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) toexecute an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) Virtual NetworkFunction (VNF); the AMF VNF to perform registrations for the wirelessuser device, and in response, establish active N1 signaling links withthe wireless user device; the AMF VNF to convert one of the active N1signaling links for the wireless user device into an inactive N1signaling link and exchange inactive N1 signaling with the wireless userdevice to maintain the registration for the inactive N1 signaling link;the AMF VNF to convert the inactive N1 signaling link for the wirelessuser device back into the one of the active N1 signaling links based onthe registration and the inactive N1 signaling for the wireless userdevice; and the AMF VNF to exchange additional active N1 signaling withthe wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links.
 16. Thewireless network core of claim 15 further comprising the AMF VNF toperform a new registration for the wireless user device, and inresponse, establish a new active N1 signaling link with the wirelessuser device when the one of the active N1 signaling links for thewireless user device comprises the inactive N1 signaling link; and theAMF VNF to exchange new active N1 signaling with the wireless userdevice over the new active N1 signaling link.
 17. The wireless networkcore of claim 15 further comprising: the AMF VNF to perform a newregistration for the wireless user device, and in response, establish anew active N1 signaling link with the wireless user device when the oneof the active N1 signaling links for the wireless user device comprisesthe inactive N1 signaling link; and the AMF VNF to convert the newactive N1 signaling link for the wireless user device into anotherinactive N1 signaling link before converting the inactive N1 signalinglink for the wireless user device back into the one of the active N1signaling links.
 18. The wireless network core of claim 15 wherein theone of the active N1 signaling links comprises a Fifth Generation NewRadio (5GNR) communication link.
 19. The wireless network core of claim15 wherein the one of the active N1 signaling links comprises anInstitute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI)communication link.
 20. The wireless network core of claim 15 whereinthe one of the active N1 signaling links comprises a Millimeter Wave(MMW) communication link and a Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN)communication link.